Air directing louver device



- Filed June23, 1958 June 30, 1959 A. D. GOETTL 2,892,395

AIR DIRECTING LOUVER DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 1 BEARING CENTER LINE SOCKET EXTREMITIES INVENTOR. ADAM D. GOETTL PATENT AGENT w m we om n m 9 A. m mi i. mm w w m2 m v H, y wl- .w g H VIII I aw/Ill! l E mm v m my Iii. 9

June 30, 1959 United States Patent fltice 2,892,395 AIR DCTING LOUVER DEVICE Adam D. Goettl, Phoehix, Appiication June 23, 1958, Serial No. 743,950 17 Claims. cr. 9 s- '4'0) The present invention relates to an air directing louver device and more particularly to improvements over an invention disclosed in Patent 2,821,899 issued February 4, 1958. The present application is a continuation in part of a joint application of Adam D. Goettl and Gust Goettl, Serial No. 662,715, filed May 31, 1957 for Air Directing Louver Device and an application Serial No. 679,296, now abandoned, filed by Adam D. Goettl on August 20, 1957.

In the construction of' air directing louver devices, having intersecting slats provided with meshed notches, various devices have been employed for holding the notches of such intersecting slats in close proximity or engaged relationship with each other during the flow of air between the slats.

intersecting slats as defined herein are slats which are disposed at an angle to, or transversely of, each other.

According to the present invention a plurality of intersecting louver slats may be provided with meshing V shaped notches having inwardly directed apexes wherein arcuate bearings intimately interconnect the slats. The centers of the arcuate bearings form pivotal axes for the slats and permit them to pivot within the angular limits of the notches while these arcuate bearings also provide sufiicient friction to hold the slats in various angularly adjusted positions relative to each other.

The present improvements in air directing louver devices are particularly adapted to the use of plastic or other moldable materials which may have sufiicient resilience to provide for frictional loading on arcuate bearings which interconnect intersecting louver slats.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a louver grill having a first plurality of spaced slats angu larly intersecting a second plurality of spaced slats and wherein bearing members pivotally interconnect the first and second plurality of slats at their intersections, whereby said bearings hold the first and second plurality of slats in a unitary grill assembly.

It is an object of the invention to provide an air directing louver device wherein spherical bearings interconnect intersecting slats on their pivotal axes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel air directing louver device having spherical bearing memhers interengagingly connecting intersecting slats atapices of substantially V shaped meshing notches" in the slats.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air directing louver device having intersecting slats assembled in a basket weave arrangement which interlocks such slats relative to each other so that they form a unitary louver construction in which all of the slats are freely pivoted relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel slat members having substantially V shaped notches alternately disposed in opposite edges of the slats and spaced longitudinally thereof in order'to permit a basket weave arrangement which interlocks such' slats relative toleac h other so that they'form a'unitarylouver construction 2,892,395 Patented June 30, 1959 2 which all of the slats are freely pivoted relative "to each other.

Another object of the inventionis to provide novel s15: members having substantially V shaped notches alter; nately disposed in opposite edges of the slats and spaced longitudinally thereof in order to permit a basket weave assembly of such slats. I

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which: H 4

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an directing louver device composed of a plurality of slate intersecting each other at substantially right angles and havi-ngspherical bearihg s located at the intersecting pQ r} tions of the slats which are constructed to form a basket weave assembly with each other. M p I, v

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. M

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 33 of Fig. 1. g g

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the invention showing construction originally disclosed in the hereinbefore referenced patent application, Serial No. 662,715; i M

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken from line 5-5 of Fig. 4. I h

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified slat intersection structure. M v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof takeh from the line 77 of Fig. 6; M

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of another mo'di fied slatintersection bearing structure; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken from the line 99 of Fig. 8. j

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified slat intersection bearing structure.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof takeii from line 11-11 of Fig. 10'.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified slat intersection structure. l

Fig. 13 is a sectional view thereof taken from line 13-43 of Fig. 12. I

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of still another modified slat intersection structure; K

Fig. 15 is a side elevational View of a flat blank from which the bearing member of the slat intersection stru'c ture, shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, is formed; and.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the bearing member of the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawings the air directing louver device of the present invention is composed of a plurality of parallel slats 10 which are disposed in spaced relation to each other. These slats extend at right angles to a second plurality of slats 11 which are also arranged in spaced parallel relationship with each other.

Each of the slats 10, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is provided with spaced substantially V shaped notehes 12 which have substantially concave spherical socket shaped apices 14 in which the slats 11 are pivotally mounted. It will be noted that the notches 12 in con secutive order, longitudinally of the slats 10, which are disposed in alternate edges 16' and 18 of the slats. 10: Thus, adjacent notches 12 are in opposite edges of the slats 10. Likewise, the slats 11 are provided with notches 20 which are alternately located in opposite edges 22 and 24 of the slats 11. Thus, each of the notches 20 in adjacent relationship to each other are alternately disposed in opposite edges 22 and 24 of these slats" The notches 20are providedwith concave spherical soelret shaped apices 26 wherein spherical bearings 28 are rie rained; Likewise," these bearings 28 are retained in the arcuate apices 14 of the slats 10. The apices 14 and 26 are disposed in opposed relationship to each other and engage the spherical bearing members 28 thereby retaining them between the slats 10 and 11 due to the fact that these slats are assembled in a basket weave mutually supporting interdigitated relationship as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

A method for producing and assembling the present air directing louver device as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings is known and this method is the subject matter of another application of the present applicant for Means and Method for Producing Louver Slat Assemblies Serial No. 682,226 filed September 5, 1957.

It will be seen that all of the spherical bearings 28 are disposed on a substantially common plane and that each and every one of slats 10 and 11 is individually pivotally mounted on the bearings 28 and movable within the V-shaped notches of the respective intersecting slats. It will be understood that the alternately disposed V-shaped notches at opposite edges of the slats 10 and 11 permit these slats to be arranged in a basket weave assembly which causes an edge to edge interlocked condition of the slats 10 and 11 with respect to each other.

In the modification as shown in Figs. 4 and of the drawings intersecting louver slats 32 and 33 are provided with substantially V-shaped meshing notch portions 34 and 35, respectively.

It is contemplated that a plurality of each of these slats may be arranged to provide an extensive air directing louver device similar to that shown in the hereinbefore referenced patent application, Serial No. 684,492.

The notches 34 and 35 of the slats 32 and 33, respectively, at their apices are provided with concave spherical sockets 36 and 37, respectively, which engage a spherical bearing 38. Each of the spherical sockets 36 and 37 extends substantially more than one hundred eighty degrees around the spherical bearing member 38 in order to interlock the bearing in the spherical socket. It will be seen that the spherical sockets 36 and 37 are at the apices of the inwardly converging notches 34 and 35 which extend from the edges of the slats 32 and 33, respectively. The spherical bearings have centers which form pivotal axes for both the slats 32 and 33.

In order to permit pivotal freedom of the slats they are of a thickness less than the diameter of the spherical bearings.

In construction, the slats 32 and 33 may be made of plastic or other suitable resilient material which permits slight spreading of the spherical sockets 36 and 37 when the spherical bearing members are forced thereinto. This is necessary since the sockets extend around more than one hundred eighty degrees of the spherical bearing members.

It is possible to mold an assembly of the spherical bearings and the slats 32 and 33. For example, the bearings 38 may be placed in a mold cavity and the slats 32 and 33 may be poured therein or injected therearound according to common practice. According to this process the plastic may tend to shrink around the spherical bearing 38 thereby attaining a substantial frictional engagement of the spherical sockets 36 and 37 relative to the spherical bearings 38 whereby the slats when arranged in certain angular positions within the V-shaped notches of each other will maintain their positions even though vigorous flow of air therebetween may tend to cause such slats to flutter.

' If the spherical sockets 37 and 36 are molded or machined individually it may be preferable to provide for gripping action of the spherical sockets 36 and 37 relative to the spherical bearing member 38. In such arrangement the spherical sockets may be machined or molded to a slightly smaller dimension than the external dimension of the spherical bearing member 38 so that the resilient material of the slats may be expanded slightly to receive the spherical bearing member 38 when pressed thereinto. With this arrangement friction engagement of the spherical bearings 38 by the spherical sockets of the slats 37 may be attained.

In the modification of the present invention as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, slats 38 and 40 are pivotally interconnected by a spherical bearing member 42. The slats 38 and 40 are preferably cast around the spherical bearing member 42 as disclosed in my copending patent application Serial No. 682,226, filed September 5, 1957 for Means and Method for Producing Louver Slat Assemblies.

It will be seen that the slats 38 and 40 are of a shape which would be produced by the mold cavities of the dies 10 and 18, respectively, shown in Fig. 1 of said application, Ser. No. 682,226.

The center line 44 of the ball or spherical bearing member 42 passes inwardly of adjacent edges 46 and 48 of the slats 38 and 40. It will be seen that the center line 44 passes between these edges and that they are substantially straight. Thus, these slats 38 and 40 are not provided with notches at the intersections of the slats but do have spherical sockes 50 and 52, respectively, which extend for more than one hundred eight degrees about the bearing member 42 in the planes of the respective slats 38 and 40. Since the edges 46 and 48 extend beyond the center line of the ball or spherical bearing member 42 it is apparent that the sockets 50 and 52 extend substantially more than one hundred eighty degrees around the spherical bearing member 42.

When the slats are made of resilient material they may be assembled relative to the spherical bearing member 42 by forcing the sockets 50 and 52 over the spherical surface of the bearing member 42.

When assembled the spherical bearing member 42 holds the slats 38 and 40 in assembly since the edges 46 and 48 extend beyond the center of the spherical hearing member 42. Further, the spherical shape of the bearing member 42 permits the slat 38 to be moved to dash line positions A while the slat 40 may concurrently be moved to dash line positions B.

The modified structure as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings may be employed in an air directing louver device having a plurality of the slats 38 in parallel relationship and connected by the spherical bearing members 42 with a plurality of parallel slats 40. Thus, the modification, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, may be used to construct an air directing louver device comprising a number of relatively pivoted intersecting slats in a unitary assembly as desired.

In the modification, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, relatively pivotal slats 54 and 56 intersect at substantially right angles and are interconnected by a bearing member 58. These slats are provided with respective meshing notches 60 and 62. Near the apex 64 of the notch 60 the slat 54 is provided with opposed inwardly directed trunnions 66 and 68 which extend into conforming recesses 70 and 72 in the bearing member 58. The bearing member 58 adjacent to the apex 64 is provided with an arcuate surface 74 which is concentric with the trunnions 66 and 68 and the conforming recesses 70 and 72 which are disposed on the bearing center line 76 which is the pivotal axes for both slats 54 and 56 as will be hereinafter described. The apex 64 has an arcuate surface conforming with the arcuate surface 74 of the bearing member 58. The slat 56 is provided with an apex in its notch 62 wherein an arcuate surface 78 of the bearing member 58 is disposed. This arcuate surface 78 is concentric about the center line 76 and the axis of the arcuate surface 78 is disposed at substantially right angles to the axis of the arcuate surface 74 hereinbefore described. Concentric with the arcuate surface 78 are recesses 80 and 82 wherein trunnions 84 and 86 of the slat 56 are engaged. These trunnions 84 and 86 are integral with the slat 56 and serve as pivotal bearings for this slat. The apex of the notch 62 in the slat 56 is provided with an arcuate surface. which conforms with the arcuate surface 78 of the'bearingmember 58.

The bearing member 58 as shown in Fig. 16, of the drawings is a solid part adapted for insertion in a molding die so that the trunnions 66, 68, 84 and 86. of the slats 54 and 56 may be cast into the recesses 70, 72, 80 and 82. It will be seen that the arcuate surfaces 74 and 78 are formed on axes which are at right, angles to each other and that the recesses 70 and 72 are axially aligned with each other and are also axially concentric with the curved surface 74. Likewise, the curved surface 78 is concentric with the recesses 80 and 82 which are axially aligned with each other.

The bearing member 58 may be placed in a mold at the intersection of. slat forming cavities. and the trunnions 6T6 and1'68 may be injection molded into the bearing recesses 70 and. 72 While at, the same time. the trunnions 8.4 andj86 may be injection molded into the respective lfecesses 80 and 82 in the bearing member 58. Thus, an assembly of louver slatsv may be made inaccordance with the teachings of my co-pending application Ser. No. 682; 226 hereinbefore referred to.

The slats 54 and 55 may be made of plastic or any other suitable material while the bearing member 58 may be made of similar or dissimilar material as desired depending upon compatibility of the materials from a standpoint of temperature and coefficient of expansion.

It will be seen that when the slat 54 is. injection molded about the bearing member 58 that slight contraction of the material of the slat 54 may occur during cooling thereof. This may cause a gripping action between the arcuate apex 64 and the trunnions 66 and 68 as the material cools. It will be appreciated that there will.v be a relative contraction of the material in the slat '54 so that a slight frictional loading between the apex 64 and. the trunnions 66 and 68 will be accomplished. Likewise, the slat 56 will contract between the trunnions 84 and 86 and. the apex 78 thereby causing frictional loading of these elements relative to the bearing member 58 at its recess bearing portions 80 and 82 and the arcuate surface 78 whichis engaged by the apex of the notch 62 in the slat 56.

The slats 54 and 56. are pivotal relative to each other withinthe limits of the notches 60 and 62 while the trunnions 66 and 68 of the slat 54 hold it securely connected with the bearing member 58. Likewise, the trunnions 84 and 86 of the slat 56 hold it securely connected with the bearingmember 58 whereby both slats 54 and 56 are retained in secure pivotal assembly relative to each other by means of the bearing member.

In the modification as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, slats 88 and 90 are pivotally interconnected by a spherical bearing member 92 which is integral with the slat 90. The slats 88 and 90 are provided with respective notch portions 94 and 96 and disposed in the apex of the notch 96 is the spherical bearing memberfwhich is integrally connected with the slat 90. This bearing member 92 may be cast in the apex of the notch 96 or may be cast at the edge of a slat such as the slat 40 shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the integral spherical bearing member 92 may be used in louver slat structures which do not have meshing notches such as the notches 94 and 96 of the slats 88 and 90, respectively.

The slat 94 is provided with a spherical socket portion 108 which extends beyond the bearing center line 102 and therefore this socket 100- extends around a spherical member 92 for more than one hundred eighty degrees thereby providing a gripping relation of the slat 88relative to the spherical bearing member 92 whereby the slats 88 and 90 are held securely in pivotal assembly relative to each other. The slats 88 and 90 are pivotal within the notches 94 and 96 as-hereinbefore described relative to other structures andspecies; of, the present invention;

In the production of the present modified structure it is contemplated that the slats .90 will, first be cast in a mold wherein the spherica bearing members 92 are integrally formed on the slats. Then the slats 88 may be molded around the spherical bearing members 92 thereby forming the sockets and providing a pivotal bearing connection at. the intersections of the slats which holds the slats in a pivotal assembly relative to each other.

In the modification of the invention as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings slats 104 and 106 intersect each other at an angle and are pivotally interconnected by common bearing 108. This bearing is formed of. sheet metal from a fiat blank substantially as shown in. Fig. 15 of the drawing. This blank however may assume different shapes in order to accomplish substantially the same structure. The bearing member 108 may be constructed of. thin resilient sheet metal and may by means of its resilient character be sprung into an assembled relationship with trunnions of the slats. 104 and 106 as will. be hereinafter described in detail. The slat 104 is provided with inwardly opposed trunnions 109 and 110 which extend into openings 112 and 114, respectively, in resilient legs 116 and 118 of the bearing member 108. The centers of the openings 112 and 114 are disposed on a common center line 128 which passes through a plane intersecting the pivotal axes of both slats 104 and 106.

It, will be seen that the bearing member 108 is provided with an arcuate surface 122 which is concentric with the center line and that this arcuate surface 122 is disposed in a notch 124 serving as a bearing socket into which the trunnions 108 and 110 oppositely extend.

The slat 186 is provided with a notch 126 which forms a socket for the bearing member 108 and extending inwardly and opposing each other are trunnions 128 and 130 which project into openings 132 and 134 in resilient legs 136 and 138 of the bearing member 108. These legs 136 and 138 are arcuate and concentric with the axes of the trunnions 199 and 110 of the slat 104. r

The resilience of the legs 116 and 118 permits or provides for frictional loading of these legs relative to the slat 1424 around the trunnions 109 and 110 while resilience of the legs 136 and 138 permits frictional loading thereof relative to the slat 106 around the trunnions 128 and 130. Thus, the slats 104 and-106 are maintained in a pivotally adjustable assembly wherein frictional loading of the parts around the bearing member 108 tends toprevent flutter and rattling of the slats at their intersections when a vigorous flow of air passes therethrough.

The slats 184 and 106 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 are pivotally interconnected and are similar in shape to the slats 28 and 48 shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The bearing member 108 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings is adapted to be inserted into position between the slats 184 and 106 after they have been formed. This bearing member 108 as hereinbefore described comprises four resilient fingers which are deflectable so that they may be placed over the trunnions 189, 118, 128 and 13b of the slats 184 and 106.

With specific reference to Fig. 12 it will be seen that the arcuate ends of the fingers 138 have slight clearance relative to the arcuate surfaces of the socket portion 126 and that this resilient bearing 108 is not adapted for use in a process wherein it would be placed in a mold. The open configuration or box shape of the bearing member 188 would prevent its use in a mold wherein the slats would be cast around the bearing member 108 as described in connection with the bearing member 58 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. Thus, the arcuate ends of the fingers 136 and 138 do not closely conform with the socket 126 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings.

In the modification as shown in Fig. 14 the bearing member 108 pivotally interconnects notched slats 140 and 142. The slat 140 having a notch 144 while the slat 142 is provided with a similar meshing notch disposed at substantially right angles thereto.

The pivotal interconnection of the slats 140 and 142 by means of the bearing 108 is similar to the structural arrangement shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

As shown in Fig. 15 a blank 146 is used to form the bearing member 108. This blank 146 may initially be a flat blank of resilient sheet metal having the four legs 116, 118, 136 and 138 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. It will be seen that the legs 116, 118, 138 and 136 are folded into substantially box shaped structure wherein all of these legs are independently defiectable without interfering with each other so that they may resiliently be deflected inwardly to receive the trunnions of the respective slats 104 and 106.

The arcuate bearing portions disclosed herein are arranged to provide pivotal axes for intersecting slats.

'These arcuate bearings are also arranged to provide for a connected assembly of the slats relative to each other so that the slats are held in assembled relation wherein 'they are angularly adjustable relative to each other to guide air therethrough in various directions as desired.

Various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a louver slat construction the combination of: a first slat having a spherical socket portion open toward one edge thereof; a spherical bearing member in said socket portion; a second slat angularly disposed relative to said first slat and intersecting the same at said spherical bearing member; said second slat angularly disposed relative to said first slat and intersecting the same at said spherical bearing member; said second slat having a spherical socket portion open toward one edge thereof and engaging said spherical bearing member; said spherical socket portions of said first and second slats being opposed to each other and extending slightly more than one hundred eighty degrees about said spherical bearing member thereby interlocking said first and second slats in pivotal relation to each other, said spherical bearing member having a center about which said first and second slats are pivoted, said slats being thinner at said socket portions than said bearing member.

2. In a louver slat construction a first plurality of slats having notch portions alternately disposed in opposite edges thereof; a second plurality of slats disposed at substantially right angles relative to said first plurality of slats and intersecting the same; said second plurality of slats having notch portions alternately disposed in opposite edges thereof and meshing with said notch portions of said first plurality of slats, said first plurality and second plurality of slats being disposed in a mutually supporting basket weave assembly wherein said alternate notches of said first plurality of slats mesh with said alternate notches of said second plurality of slats; and spherical bearing members disposed between the meshing notch portions of said first and second pluralities of slats, said spherical bearing members all disposed on a common plane, said first and second pluralities of slats being pivoted about cplanar axes which pass through the centers of said spherical bearing members.

3. In an air directing louver device; a plurality of first slats having substantially V shaped notches alternately disposed in opposite edges; said V shaped notches having closed apices comprising spherical socket portions; spherical bearing members in said spherical socket portions and a plurality of second slats angularly disposed relative to said first plurality of slats and having substantially V shaped notch portions alternately disposed in opposite edges thereof; said V shaped notch portions of said second plurality of slats having closed apices comprising spherical socket portions engaging said spherical bearing members; said first and second pluralities of slats disposed in a mutually supporting basket 8 i V weave assembly wherein said alternate notches of said first plurality of slats mesh with said alternate notches of said second plurality of slats, said-spherical bearing members all being disposed on a common plane, said first and second pluralities of slats being pivoted about coplanar axes which pass through the centers of said spherical bearing members.

4. In a louver slat construction hte combination of: spherical bearing members; first and second sets of pivoted slat members, each slat having a thickness less than that of said spherical bearing members, said first and second pivoted slat sets intersecting each other at said spherical bearing members and being angularly disposed relative to each other, each slat of said pivoted slat sets having spherical socket portions disposed at the slat edges, said edges being opposed to each other and rotatably joined by said bearing members, said socket portions engaging said bearing members and each socket portion extending slightly more than one hundred eighty degrees around the surface thereof.

5. In an adjustable louver slat construction, a first slat having a substantially V shaped notch; a second slat angularly intersecting said first slat and having a substantially V shaped notch intermeshing with the V shaped notch of said first slat, inner portions of said notches of said slats being adjacent each other and provided with a bearing element therebetween, said bearing element interengagingly connecting said slats and maintaining said notches thereof in mesh with each other, said slats having pivotal axes with respect to said bearing element wherein said axes are disposed in a common plane, said slats being thinner at said socket portions than said bearing member.

6. In an air directing louver slats, a first plurality of slats having notches alternately disposed in opposite edges thereof; a second plurality of slats angularly disposed relative to said first plurality of slats and intersecting same; said second plurality of slats having notches alternately disposed in opposite edges thereof and meshing with notches of said first plurality of slats, said notches in said slats being open adjacent respective meshing notches to permit pivotal freedom of said slats about axes disposed longitudinally thereof and transversely of said notches, said first plurality and second plurality of slats being disposed with respect to each other to effect a basket weave arrangement of symmetrically interdigitated pluralities of slats to effect an open grid assembly wherein said pluralities of slats support each other.

7. An adjustable louver construction comprising two sets of slats, said sets being disposed at an angle to each other to form a grid, said slats having spaced notches in their edges and being disposed so that the notches of one set straddle respective notches of the other set to effect locations of intersections of said grid, each notch having a bearing engaging portion facing a bearing engaging portion of a straddling notch, and an individual bearing element disposed intermediate said bearing portions of mutually straddling notches, said slats being relatively pivotal about said individual bearing elements.

8. In a louver construction as set forth in claim 7, said bearing elements in each pair of straddling notches being pivotally secured to at least one set of slats.

9. An adjustable louver construction for ventilation control, comprising two sets of slats, said sets being disposed at an angle to each other to form a grid, said slats having spaced notches in their edges and being disposed so that the notches of one set straddle respective notches of the other set to effect points of intersection of said grid, each notch having an apex, and an individual bearing element disposed at the intersection of the apices of mutually straddling notches; said slats relatively pivotal about said individual bearing elements.

10. In a louver constmction as set forth in claim '9,

device having adjustable said bearing elements in each pair of straddling notches being pivotally secured to at least one set of slats.

11. In a louver construction as set forth in claim 9, said bearing elements being pivotally secured to both sets of slats.

12. An adjustable louver construction comprising two sets of slats, said sets intersecting each other at an angle and forming a grid array, said slats having spaced bearing portion means at their edges coinciding with locations of intersections of the slats of said grid array, and bearing member means disposed at said locations, said hearing member means being connected to said slats by said bearing portion means thereof to hold said sets of slats in a unitary assembly wherein at least one set of said slats has relative pivotal adjustability about said hearing members.

13. In an adjustable louver construction the combination of: a plurality of first slats having first bearing surface means at their edges; a plurality of second slats having second bearing surface means at their edges, said first and second slats intersecting each other adjacent said first and second bearing surface means; individual bearing member means engaged between said first and second bearing surface means, said first and second slats being relatively pivotal about said individual member means.

14. In an air directing louver device the combination of: a first slat having a socket portion opened toward one edge thereof; a bearing member in sm'd socket portion; a second slat angularly disposed relative to said first slat and intersecting the same at said bearing memher, said second slat having a socket portion open toward the edge thereof and engaging said bearing member, said bearing member having opposed pairs of bearing recesses therein disposed at substantially 90 degrees to each other; said bearing member having first and second arcuate surfaces adjacent to said socket portions of said first and second slats, said first arcuate surface having an axis disposed at right angles to the axis of said second arcuate surface, the axes of said first and second arcuate surfaces being concentric with respective bearing recesses and trunnion portions on each of said first and second slats extending into opposite sides of said sockets and engaged in respective bearing recesses of said bearing member, said trunnions of each slat having their axes aligned longitudinally thereof.

15. In an air directing louver device the combination of: a first slat having a bearing socket portion open toward one edge thereof; a bearing member disposed in said socket portion; a second slat angularly disposed relative to said first slat and intersecting the same at said bearing member, said second slat having a socket portion open toward one edge thereof and receiving said bearing member, said bearing member formed of resilient sheet metal and having four sides provided with bearing openings therein, said openings being arranged in pairs of aligned openings, said pairs disposed at right angles to each other; and trunnions on each of said first and second slats extending into opposite sides of said sockets and engaged in respective bearing openings of said bearing member, said trunnions of each slat having their axes aligned longitudinally thereof, the trunnions of one slat being thus disposed at right angles to the trunnions of the other slat.

16. In a louver slat construction the combination of: a slat having a spherical socket portion open toward one edge thereof; a second slat angularly disposed relative to said first slat and having a spherical bearing member integral therewith and engaged in said spherical socket portion of said first slat, the spherical socket portions of said first slat extending slightly more than one hundred eighty degrees around said spherical bearing member.

17. In an air directing louver device the combination of: a first slat having a socket portion open toward one edge thereof; and a bearing member in said socket portion; a second slat angularly disposed relative to said first slat and intersecting the same at said bearing member, said second slat having a socket portion open toward one edge thereof and receiving said bearing member, said bearing member having a first pair of bearing portions axially aligned with each other and on an axis aligned longitudinally of said first slat, said first slat having first conforming bearing portions pivotally engaged with said first pair of bearing portions, said bearing member having a second pair of bearing portions axially aligned with each other and on an axis aligned longitudinally of said second slat, said second slat having second conforming bearing portions pivotally engaged with said second pair of bearing portions, disposed axially at substantially right angles to the axis of said first pair of bearing portions, said first and second slats pivotally connected and held together by engagement of said bearing portions thereof with said bearing portions of said bearing member.

No references cited. 

